Following last weekend’s unseasonably strong winds, one of the UK’s largest insurance providers has revealed a 449% increase in flood claims over the past 12 months, and issued guidance on how to prepare for more adverse weather expected this month.

Simply Business, insurance providers to over 900,000 small businesses and landlords, examined all claims submitted between the period March 2022 to March 2024 to discover the uplift. Storm Kathleen, the 11th of the season and named by the Irish Meteorological Service on Thursday, rolled in with blustery conditions on Friday. Flights across the UK and Ireland were brought to a standstill, and The Environment Agency issued 119 flood alerts and 19 flood warnings across England and Wales as further rain fell overnight in parts of Wales and the south west of England.

With over 13 storms wreaking havoc across the UK, the impact of these weather events has been unprecedented. Earlier this year, Storm Henk battered the UK, causing heavy flooding across parts of England and sparking Nottingham Council to declare a major incident. The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology confirmed that the period between July and December 2023 was the wettest on record.

Last year, the Environment Agency warned that around 5.5 million homes and businesses in England were at risk of flooding, warning that “the frequency and severity of flooding will only get worse”.

As businesses and property owners brace themselves for further weather challenges, Simply Business urges property owners to ensure their flood preparations are robust and watertight.

Bea Montoya, COO at Simply Business shares 7 key tips on how to prepare your business or property for a flood

1. Check the long term flood risk for your area on gov.uk. You can use this service to check flood risk from rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater.

2. Keep an eye on the Met Office’s UK Weather Warnings page for any warnings in your area

3. If there is a possible flood warning in your area make sure you have sandbags, air bricks or pumps, which are widely available and could help keep your shop or property safe.

4. If heavy rain can sometimes cause flooding in your area, then make sure that your equipment, stock, and everything else in your premises is protected from damage – take valuable items from the floor and move them upstairs, if you can, and move your stock from the floor to higher ground too.

5. Check the sealant around doors and windows for any cracks, as water can seep through these gaps and into your shop or property.

6. Business buildings insurance is a key consideration for anyone who owns their own premises, but even if you don’t, it’s worth knowing that business equipment and stock can also be insured. Storms and severe weather can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage, so make sure you keep receipts for everything associated with your business in case you need to make a claim.

7. For landlords, home emergency cover can be extremely valuable if your property is hit by a storm.